Method of casting explosive charges.



E. SOKOLOWSKI. METHOD OF CASTING EXPLOSIVB CHARGES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT.3,1911.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

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UNTTED TATE$ PATENT OFT TQE.

ERNST SOKOLOWSKI, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. DU PONT DENEMOURS POWDER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

METHOD OF CASTING EXPLOSIVE CHARGES.

hollow places are easily formed during theprocess of chilling.

The object of the present invention is to considerablyreduce the timefrom the casting to the chilling, so as to renderthe casting appliancesavailable for a new casting charge at the earliest possible moment,

Another and the main object of this invention is the production of ahomogeneous ex plosive charge throughout and particularly in the centerline.

Other advantages of the invention will be cited in the description ofthe same.

The method consists in the following: Into the center line of the mold acold substance made of an explosive in the shape of a rod -is introducedand maintained in position by means of a suitable appliance from itsupper end. The introduction of the cold rod tmade of an explosivesubstance can be effected in such manner that this rod is introducedinto the empty mold before the fused material is poured into same, orthe rod an be inserted after the cast. has been made by pressing sameinto the latter. The filling of the mold may be carried outin'accordance with any desired pouring process, forinstance, bymeans ofan ordinary casting, by means of casting under pressure, or by means ofa treatable pouring funnel. In the latter case the neck of the funnelcan be used for the guiding of the cold rod-shaped substance. The latterconsists for instance, of an explosive which is not covered and whichhas been fused and chilled, or of an explosive pressed in, a tube-shapedclosed shell, the latter,for instance, consisting of celluloid,pasteboard orsheet metal. The diameter of this cold, rod-shapedexplosive material is to be adapted to the'diameter of the explo-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 3, 1911.

' Patented Feb. 25, L95).

Serial No. 652,480.

sive charge. By means of providing this cold rod made of an explosivesubstance in the center of the cast, or by sinking this rod into thefused explosive mass, 21 quick chilling of the liquid portion of thecharge is effected. The rod-shaped cold explosive body is thus tightlysurrounded by the chilli'ng explosive charge. Experience shows thatfusing of the rod substance does not take place, or takes place to but aslight extent, whenever the casting operation-is carried out at as low acasting temperature as. possible and with indications of thecommencement'of the formation of crystals. This condition is ofgreatimportance-in this method of casting and for the purpose ofproducing the high density of the cast obtained thereby.

When usinga rod made of a pressed explosive in a pasteboard or. othercover, this pressed explosive servesdirectly as a priming charge. whichtightly bears against the bottom of the explosive charge containersurrounding the igniting charge of the fuse. Owing to the long shape ofthis priming charge passing almost throughout the entire length of thecharge, the detonation becomes very satisfactory, and a very strongpropagation of the detonation upon the fused main charge is more fullyinsured than in the case of the usual priming charges placed with oneside only hear the fuse and surrounding the-same.

Of specialimportance-is the advantage that, as a consequence of thequick cooling of the cast simultaneously from the outside and from theinside, a very fine crystalline structure of the cast, and as high adensity as possible, are obtained. 'For this reason large crystals willnot break, even though the impact of the shot should be especiallyviolent, and the charge will not contract, since the highest possibledensity has been imparted to the same during the casting, and since adensifying beyond this point is not possible. These two points render'impossible movements within the explosive charge with violent impactof. the shot, thus directly insuring against premature detonations to'an extent which is not obtained when usm'g other pouring methods.

Of special importance is the fact that the explosive used for the coldrod-shaped bodycan possess chemical properties entirely dif-' ferentfrom those of the main charge. It

'is therefore possible to use, for the rod charge, for instance abrisant explosive which detonates with violence; while for the maincharge a more inert fused explosive which is very safe against shock,for instance tronitrotoluol, can be used;

Finally, as important advantage of the process is the fact thatexplosive charges, prepared in accordance therewith, when cutopen,clearly show that they have actually been prepared in accordance withthe process, which guarantees to a high degree the good quality of thecharge. \Vhen using, for instance, the rod-shaped body without a coverand made of a fused explosive, the structure of the same can be clearlydistinguished from that of the main charge, since its appearance isdifierent, notwithstanding the fact that an exceedingly intimate fusionof the two charges has been effected. This is, of course, still moreapparent when the rod body is used in a pressed state and with a specialcover.

The way in which the process is carried out will be clear from theaccompanying drawings, in which each figure is a longitudinal sectionalview of a mold containing the main body of explosive and the centralexplosive core; Figure 1 showing an uncovered explosive core and Fig. 2showing an explosive core in'a shell.

a represents an iron casting mold, b a paste-board container placed inthe same.

and c (Fig. 1) a rod-shaped body of fused explosive extending throughoutthe axial length of the mold.

consisting of a paste board shell d with sei eral pressed bodies ofexplosives, c, placed therein.

I do not herein claim the explosive charge made by the process formingthe subject matter of this application, as the said product forms thesubject matter of an application filed by me May 15, 1912, Serial No.697,588.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is 1. The process of manufacturing explosivecharges of highest density and without-hollow spaces, which consists 'inexpediting the solidification of'the fused explosive by chilling it bothfrom the outside and from the center of thecharge.

2. The process of manufacturing explosive charges of highest density andwithout hollow spaces, which consists in chilling the main explosivebody from the outside and simultaneously therewith uniting the c (Fig.2) represents a rod-shaped bodv rounds the internal core, thehomogeneity and density of the casting is improved, and the chillingexpedited.

4. The process of forming" explosive charges, which consists ininclosing, with a main body of fusible explosive, a coldcentralexplosive core of small diameter relatively t0 the diameter of the mainexplosive body and extending substantially throughout the axial lengthofthe mold, and chilling the main body of explosive.

5. The process of manufacturing explosive charges of highest density andwith out hollow spaces, which consists in expediting the chilling of thefused charge by inserting in and throughout its center a rod-shaped castor compressed body of cold explosive.

6. The process of forming explosive charges-which consists in inclosingwithin a main body of fusible explosive a centrallongitudinally-extending cold explosive core of pressed explosive, andchilling the fusible explosive.

7. The process of forming explosive charges which consists in inclosing,within a main body of fusible explosive a cold explosive core containedwithin a longitudinally extending central shell, the main body ofexplosive.

8. The process of manufacturing explosive charges of highestdensity andwith out hollow spaces, which-consists in expediting the chilling of thefused charge by inserting in and throughout its center a cold rod-shapedshell containing a fused or compressed explosive charge.

9.. The process of forming explosive charges which consists inintroducing a cold rod-shaped explosive body into a mold, pouring fusedexplosive around said body, and chllling the fused explosive.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, atHamburg, on this 19th day-of Sept, 1911.

lVitnesses ERNEST H. L. BIUMMENUHFF, ANDREW 'VV. Pnx'rmxn.

and chilling

